SMALL BASS AND SUN-FISH 51 



fore, with some degree of confidence, have 

 either rock-bass and calico-bass, or calico-bass 

 and sun-fish, breeding in the same pond. 



Nesting Habits. — ^Eock-bass and sim-fish are 

 decidedly gregarions during the spawning sea- 

 son, and their nests are often found closely; 

 naingled. The whole of the bottom, or both 

 sides of a pond, have been observed so thickly 

 covered with sun-fish and rock-bass nests that 

 they almost touched each other, the occupants 

 apparently dwelliag in amity. The same type 

 of pond may be constructed for the three 

 species as for black-bass breeders. It is un- 

 necessary to build artificial nests unless the 

 bottom be more than usually muddy, although 

 these three species prefer sandy or gravelly 

 places on which to deposit their eggs. They 

 desire from one to three feet of water in which 

 to spawn. It is a curious fact that in Pennsyl- 

 vania the four principal species instinctively 

 choose, when they have the opportunity, differ- 

 ent degrees of depths. Calico-bass will often 

 build nests in six feet of water. The common 

 "pumpMn-seed" selects a very shoal spot, and 

 begins nest-building a few days earlier thaa its 



